IMPERIAL EAGLE - Malta Island
The Imperial Eagle sits upright in around 28 metres of water, a purposeful scuttling that delivered a fantastic dive site. We love the way it looms into view from the blue, a proper ship shape. She started life ferrying passengers between Malta and Gozo, and you can still make out the large cargo holds and the bridge area. Our favourite part is the bow, where schools of damselfish flutter like confetti and often you’ll spot a large grouper lurking in the shadows. Penetration is possible for experienced wreck divers, with some tight spots leading into the engine room, where those old Crossley Brothers engines still sit. It’s a comfortable depth for most PADI Advanced Open Water divers and offers some great photo opportunities when the light is right. Just be mindful of currents, as they can pick up, particularly around the stern. We’d suggest going in the morning for the best visibility.
- Location
- Malta Island, Malta, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 35.963554, 14.433437
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 28m
Marine Protected Area: Irdumijiet Ta\' Madwar il-Kosta f\'Ta\' Buleben, San Pawl il-Baħar
Best Time to Dive in Malta Island
The warmest water temperatures in Malta Island occur in January, averaging 16.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 16.8°C (air: 13.8°C)
- February: 16.8°C (air: 13.8°C)
- March: 16.8°C (air: 14.3°C)
- April: 16.8°C (air: 16.2°C)
- May: 16.8°C (air: 19.8°C)
- June: 16.8°C (air: 24.1°C)
- July: 16.8°C (air: 27.2°C)
- August: 16.8°C (air: 27.7°C)
- September: 16.8°C (air: 25.6°C)
- October: 16.8°C (air: 22.3°C)
- November: 16.8°C (air: 19.1°C)
- December: 16.8°C (air: 15.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Malta Island
- Ahrax Bay - 5-15m (reef)
- Anchor Bay (Dive Site) (reef)
- Balluta Bay (Dive Site) (reef)
- BARGE 2 - 60m (wreck)
- Cirkewwa - Outer Reef (Dive Site) (reef)
- Cirkewwa - Susie's Pool and Reef (Dive Site) (reef)
- Dragonara cave (cave)
- Filflette (Dive Site)
- Ghar Lapsi - Left Reef (Dive Site) (reef)
- HMS KINGSTON - 5m (wreck)
- HMSM STUBBORN - 51m (wreck)
- HMS Stubborn (wreck)
- Is-Sikka l-Bajda
- Is-Sikka tal-Qawwi
- Jesus of Qawra
Nearest Dive Centres to IMPERIAL EAGLE
Marine Life in Malta Island
Home to 62 recorded species including 39 reef fish, 4 hard corals, 4 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 other, 2 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) - Reef Fish
- Ornate Wrasse (Thalassoma pavo) - Reef Fish
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Garrupa (Serranus cabrilla) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- killer alga (Caulerpa taxifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Scarlet Coral (Balanophyllia (Balanophyllia) europaea) - Hard Corals
- Bushy Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) - Hard Corals
- Red coral (Corallium rubrum) - Soft Corals
- Common Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Sunset cup coral (Leptopsammia pruvoti) - Hard Corals
- Tub (Chelidonichthys lucerna) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris) - Reef Fish
- Lanternfish (Hygophum benoiti) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for IMPERIAL EAGLE
Based on average water temperature of 16.8°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories